Boxer exchange deal

BOXING Commission of Fiji officials in the West met officials from the Papua New Guinea Commission Control Board in Nadi yesterday to discuss the concept of sharing boxers.

Commission director Malakai Veisamasama confirmed a very fruitful discussion was held between western commission director Usman Ali, PNG director Danny Poponawa and board member Bernard Fong.

"The meeting was a continuation of a meeting I had with the PNG board earlier after a local boxer (Iosefo Cakaunivalu) fought in PNG," Veisamasama said. "The idea is to have a working relationship with our Melanesian brothers under which some of their boxers would come here for fights and some of our professional boxers will go to PNG for fights."

He said the meeting was a success and the proposed concept would be further reviewed once it was presented to the boxing boards of the two countries.

"We are hoping a decision is made as soon as possible because this is an idea that would benefit both countries.

"We are excited with this because we have never had an offer like this."

Veisamasama said the commission was keen to capitalise on the concept to its fullest potential.

"We can have some of our boxers feature in the programs in our own country with PNG boxers and other local boxers can have their fights in programs in PNG and the boxers will earn some money out of this."